Flushing apparatus.



No. 841.487. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907;

a. B. DAY. S v

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1902.

2 BHEETSr-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTO'B.

' d EharlasBEay ,M I D 9 (fix/4,116 fi/ ATTORNEY THE prams Prnrs co.,wAsmncmN, v. c.

N0- 84l,487. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

:G. B. DAY.

FLUSHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"A wmul l INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DAY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FLUSHING APPARATUS- To all wlwm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. DAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Apparatus;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the ac companying drawings, and to figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flushing apparatus or tanksfor water-closets, urinals, and other similar devices and the inventionrelates more particularly to a novel arrangement and combination, withthe valve-actuating mechanism for the apparatus of the characterspecified, of a water-inlet valve combined with an air-chamber todispense with any back pressure of the Water upon the valve, and therebyovercome the objectionable hammering of the valve upon the valveseat andalso avoiding the shaking and rattling of the various parts of theflushingout apparatus.

My present invention, therefore, has for its primary object to provide anovel construc tion of Water-inlet valve for flushing apparatus ortanks, combined with a suitably-dis posed air-chamber, to prevent thehammering or thumping of the valve upon its valveseat and preventing theshaking and rattling of the various parts of the apparatus.

Other objects of my invention are sim plicity and cheapness ofconstruction and various novel details of construction of the variousparts of mechanism.

The invention therefore consists, broadly, in the combination of aflushing apparatus with an air-inlet and air-check or device, such aswill be hereinafter more fully specified; and, furthermore, theinvention consists in the various novel arrangements and combinations ofthe devices and the details of the construction thereof, all of whichwill be fully described in the accompanying specification and thenfinally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a water-tank andthe valve controlling and operating mechanisms, illustrating in con-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 22, 1902.

Patented Jan. 1 5, 1907.

Serial No. 116,487-

nection therewith my novel form of inletvalve and air-check or device,the various parts being represented in their normally inactivepositions. Fig. 2 is a similar view of all the said part-s representedin their operated positions when the inlet-valve is opened and theoutlet-valve in the bottom of the tank is just about to be closed, andFig. 3 is a plan or top view of the various parts. Fig. 4 is a detailedvertical cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of the outlet-valve, itsstem, and a portion of the tank, and various other parts of the device,said section being taken on line 4 A in said Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is adetailed view of an oscillating lever for raising the outlet-valve andits stem and a spring-clamp at the side of the tank adapted for holdingengagement with said lever in its pulled or lowered position and thesaid outlet-valve and stem in their raised positions; and Fig. 6 is across-section of said spring-clamp, taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a vertical section of an inlet-valve and an aircheck or deviceconnected with the valvecasing. Fig. 8 is a detailed view of portions ofthe said valve-casing looking in the direction of the arrow 0; in saidFig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a sectional representation of the water-inlet pipeleading to said inlet-valve and a pressure-reducing device in saidinletpipe.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the saidhereinabove-de scribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates any ordinary form and construction of tank,cistern, or the like, such as is used with water-closcts, urinals, &c.,and 2 indicates the main water or inlet pipe. The end of this pipe 2 ispreferably connected with a connection or union 3, having a pipe-shapedportion 4, which extends through any suitable portion of the tank orcistern 1, preferably the bottom thereof, and is connected with thecasing of an inlet-valve in the manner to be presently described. Ifdesired, the said union or connection 3 may be provided with a reducingdevice for reducing the pressure and retarding the flow of the waterfrom said pipe into the inlet-valve casing. This pressure-regulatingmeans consists, essentially, of a suitable screen 6, of wire-mesh, and adisk or plate 7, provided with suitably-disposed holes or perforations8, and all being held in place by means of a screw-threaded ring 9,which is screwed into the inner portion of said part 5 substantially inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 9.

The water-inlet valve is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 7 of thedrawings, and it consists, essentially, of a tubular member 10, providedwith a screw-threaded end 11 and a flange 12, the end 11 being screwedin a proper hole in the tank 1 and the flange 12 being fitted againstthe inner surface of the said tank 1. The end pipe-shaped portion 4 ofthe main water-inlet is inserted in the tubular portion of said screwend 11 of the member in the usual and well-known manner. Suitablyconnected with the tubular member 10 is another tubular member 13, themembers 10 and 13 being respectively provided with the perforatedflanged i portion 14 and 15 and the tightening bolts or screws 16 forsecurely connecting the said members and causing their respective endsto be tightly closed down upon a packing ring or gasket 17, as shown.The said member 13 is provided with an outlet 18 having an opening 19for a quick delivery of the water into the tank 1 to fill said tank whenthe outlet -valve has been closed after the flushing operation, the saidoutlet 18 also having secured thereto a pipe 20, of a small diameter,leading into the tubular stem of the outlet-valve, through which thewater is passed into the bowl to fill the same while the outlet-valve inthe tank 1 is closed and while said tank 1 is being filled. This pipe 20is not an absolute necessity and may, however, be dispensed with. Themember 10 of the valve-casing is provided with a valve-chamber 21.Fitting against a valveseat 22 in said member 13 is a valve plug or disk23, having a rod 24 extending into the upper end of the tubular member13, being provided with a guide-plunger 25, slidably arranged in theopen-ended and tubular portion of said member 13. The said plunger 25 ismade with a slot 26, in which is opera-- vtively arranged the end of afinger 27 of a bell-crank 28. This bell-crank is pivotally arranged upona pin or bolt 29 and moves be tween a pair of lugs 30,'extending fromthe side of said member 13, so that when said finger 27 oscillatesbetween said lugs 30 the guide-plunger 25 is made to reciprocate in thetubular portion of said member 13 to thereby open and close the valveplug or disk 23, substantially as and for the purposes hereinafter moreparticularly set forth. Suitably secured tothe upper end portion of themember 31 of the bell-crank 28 is a floatrod 32, having its opposite endsecured to any suitably-constructed float 33.

Extending from one side of the member 10 at a point below the valve-seat22 is an outlet 34, preferably in the form of an elbow, to which isattached a tube 35, having a suitably-closed end 36. The said tube 35 isto contain air and is for the purpose of checking seat when the water inthe tank 1 and the' float 33 have reached the highest level and wherebythe hammering and thumping now so common in flushing apparatus forwaterclosets, &c., is entirely overcome and a noise lesslyoper atingdevice is the result.

The outlet-valve to be used with the flushing apparatus may be of anysuitable construotion, that herein shown consisting, essentially, 'of avalve-casing 37, secured in an opening in the bottom of the tank 1 andbeing provided with an amiular seat 38. The said valve-easing 37 is madewith the lower tubular portion 39, which extends from the bottom of thetank 1 and is for the purpose of securing thereto in any suitable mannera flushing-out pipe 40. Movably arranged in the said valvecasing 37 isthe lower end of a valve-stem 41, which is preferably of a tubularcross-section, the upper end portion of said stem 41 being movablyarranged in a ring-shaped portion 43 of a bracket 42, eX- tending fromone of the inner sides of the tank 1. Suitably secured to the lower endportion of the said stem 41 is a valve-disk 44, having a rubber or otherflexible gasket or ring 45, which normally fits upon the said valve-seat38, and thereby closes the water-outlet in the bottom of said tank 1.The upper portion of said stem 41 is provided with oppositely-extendingpins or projections 46, which rest directly upon a bifurcated or forkedportion 48 of an actuating-lever 47. This lever is secured, by means ofa connection 49 or in any other suitable manner, upon cross-rod orspindle 50, having its ends arranged so as to oscillate in the oppositesides of the tank 1. The said lever 47 is provided at its opposite endwith a handle 51 or a chain or other flexible connection 52, providedwith a pull-piece 53, by means of which the levei 47 can be actuated toraise the valve-stem 41, and thereby open the outlet-valve to permit ofthe water to be discharged from the tank 1 into the discharge orflushing-out pipe, as will be clearly understood. Connected with thepreviously-mentioned cross-rod or spindle is an arm 54, which is forceddown into holding engagement with a suitably-constructed spring-clamp55, attached to the inner side of the tank, preferably as shown, to holdthe various parts in their actuated positions (indicated in Fig. 2)while the water is passing out through the open outlet-valve. Theseparts are maintained in these positions until the receding level of thewater brings the float arm or rod 32 forcibly against the lower loopportion 57 of a link 56 or the equivalent thereof, which is suspendedfrom the lever said devices and their parts as herein de- 47, wherebythe arm 54 is forced from its holding engagement.with the spring-clamp55 and the said valve-stemAl, and valvedisk 44 will then by their owngravity fully close the outlet in the bottom of the tank. At this pointthe level of the water in the tank is practically that indicated in Fig.2 of the drawings, and at this level the outlet valve closes the openingin the bottom of the tank. The-inlet-valve being open, a fresh supply ofwater is admitted, into the tank until the rising float again closes theinlet-valve at the height of the water. (Indicated in Fig. l 1 of thedrawings.)

It has been found in practice that the inlet-valve, especially wherethere is a great pressure of water, will hammer or thump upon its seat,whereby a noisy construction is the result, and the valve will also berendered useless; but with the use of my novel form of air-check ordevice there is no possible backpressure, since the air acts as acushion upon the under surface of the inlet-valve plug or disk inopposition to the water-pressure against the opposite side of thevalve-plug and the latter is securely retained against its valve-seat atthe time that the water in the tank 1 has again reached its properheight.

From the above description it will be clearly evident thatIhave deviseda practical, efficient, and noiselessly-working device for the variouspurposes stated.

I am aware that changes may be made in the different arrangements andcombinations of the devices and their parts without departing from thescope of my invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exactarrangements and combinations of the scribed and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the details of theconstruction of any of the said part-s.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a flushingapparatus, or the like, the combination, with a tank adapted to receiveand contain water, said tank being provided with a tubular water-outletmovably connected with an opening in the bottom of the tank andextending to a point near the top of the tank, and means for liftingsaid tubular water-outlet for opening the opening in the bottom of thetank, of an inlet-valve in said casing, comprising, a tubularvalve-casing having a single water-inlet at the bottom, a water-outletnear the top having a means of water connection with said tubularwateroutlet of the tank, and being provided with an additional outletfor a quick delivery of water into the body of the tank, and providedwith a valve-chamber between the said inlet and outlet, a valve-seat insaid chamber at a point immediately below the outlet of said 1 chamber,a valve or plug arranged against 1 the under side of said valve-seat, asecond outlet in the side of said valve-casing at a point below the saidvalve-seat and normally below the said valve or plug, and a tube havinga closed end extending above the highest level of the water in thetank,said tube containing air and being connected at its lower end withthe said second outlet for producing air-pressure upon the water againstthe under side of said valve or plug when in its closed relation againstthe under surface of the said valve-seat, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

2. In a flushing apparatus, orthe like, the combination, with a tankadapted to receive and contain water, said tank being provided with atubular water-outlet movably connected with an opening in the-bottom ofthe tank and extending to a point near the top of the tank, and meansfor lifting said tubular water-outlet for opening the opening in thebottom of the tank, of an inlet-valve in said casing, comprising atubular valve-casing having a single water-inlet at the bottom, awater-outlet near the top having a means of water connection with saidtubular wateroutlet of the tank, and being provided with an additionaloutlet for a quick delivery of water into the body of the tank, andprovided with a valve-chamber between the said inlet and outlet, avalve-seat in said chamber at a point immediately below the outlet ofsaid chamber, a valve or plug arranged against the under side of saidvalve-seat, a second outlet in the side of said valve-casing at a pointbelow the said valve-seat and normally below the said valve or plug, anda tube having a closed end extending above the highest level of thewater in the tank, said tube con taining air and being connected at itslower end with the said second outlet for producing air-pressure uponthe water against the under side of said valve or plug when in itsclosed relation against the under surface of the said valve-seat, aguide-plunger in the upper portion of the said valve-casing, above themain water-outlet in said casing, a stem connecting said plunger withthe said valve, and means for causing a reciprocatory motion of saidplunger and valve, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a flushing apparatus, or the like, the combination, with a tankadapted to receive and contain water, said tank being provided with atubular water-outlet movablyconnected with an opening in the bottom ofthe tank and extending to a point near the top of the tank, and meansfor lifting said tubular wateroutlet for opening the opening in thebottom of the tank, of an inlet-valve in said casing, comprising, atubular valve-casing having a single water-inlet at the bottom, awater-outlet near the top having a means of water connection with saidtubular water-outlet of the tank, and being provided with an additionalIIO outlet for a quick delivery of water into the body of the tank, andprovided with a valvechamber between the said inlet and outlet, avalve-seat in said chamber at a point immediately below the outlet ofsaid chamber, a valve or plug arranged against the under side of saidvalve-seat, a second outlet in the side of said valve-casing at a pointbelow the said valve-seat and normally below the said valve or plug, anda tube having a closed end extending above the highest level of thewater in the tank, said tube containing air and being connected at itslower end with the said second outlet for producing air-pressure uponthe water against the under side of said valve or plug when in itsclosed relation against the under surface of the said valve-seat, aguideplunger in the upper portion of the said valvecasing, above themain water-outlet in said casing, a stem connecting said plunger withthe said valve, and means for causing a reciprocatory motion of saidplunger and valve, consisting, essentially, of a float and a floatrodconnected with said plunger, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

4. In a flushing apparatus, or the like, the combination, with a tankadapted to receive and contain water, said tank being provided with awater-outlet having a valve-seat, a valve on said seat, and a tubularstem connected with said valve, of an inlet-valve in said casing,comprising, a tubular valvecasing having a single water-inlet at thebottom, a water-outlet near the top and proyided with a valve-chamberbetween said inlet and outlet, said water-outlet consisting of a portion18 provided with an opening 19 for quick delivery, and a pipe 20connected at one end with said portion 18 and at the other end with saidtubular stem of the outlet-valve in said casing, a valve-seat in thechamber of said tubular valve-casing, a valve or plug arranged againstthe under side of the said valveseat, a second outlet in the side ofsaid valve-casing at a point below the said valve-seat and normallybelow the said valve or plug, and a tube having a closed end extendingabove the highest level of the water in the tank, said tube containingair and being connected at its lower end with the said second outlet forproducing air-pressure upon the water against the under side of saidvalve or plug when in its closed relation against the under surface ofthe valve-seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a flushing apparatus, or the like, the combination, with a tankadapted to receive and contain water, said tank being provided with awater-outlet having a valve-seat, a valve on said seat, and a tubularstem connected with said valve, of an inlet-valve in said casing,comprising, a tubular valve-casing having a single water-inlet at thebottom, a water-outlet near the top and provided with a valve-chamberbetween said inlet and outlet,'said water-outlet consisting of a portion18 provided with an opening 19 for quick delivery, and a pipe 20connected at one end with said portion 18 and at the other end with saidtubular stem of the outlet-valve inconnected at its lower end with thesaid second outlet for producing air-pressure upon the water against theunder side of said valve or plug when in its closed relation against theunder surface of the valve-seat, a guide-plunger in the upper portion ofthe said valvecasing, above the main water-outlet in said casing, a stemconnecting said plunger with the said valve, and means for causing areciprooatory motion of said plunger and valve, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

6. A flushing apparatus, or the like, comprising a tank, a water-outletin the bottom of said tank, provided with a valve-seat, a valve-stem anda valve-disk on said stem, movably arranged above said valveseat, aspring-clamp at one side of the tank, an oscillating spindle, having itsends arranged in the opposite sides of the tank, a lever connected withsaid spindle, and with said valvestem for raising said stem and thevalve-disk thereon, and a rod entendin from said spindle adapted to bebrought in holding engagement with said spring-clamp, for holding saidstem in its raised position while the level of the water is beinglowered, and means actuated by the receding water for releasing said rodfrom its holding engagement with said spring-clamp, consisting, of afloat and a float-rod, and a link suspended from said lever having alarge loop portion in which said float-rod moves and is adapted to bebrought in engagement with the lower end thereof, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

7. A flushing apparatus, or the like, comprising a tank, a water-outletin the bottom of said tank, provided with a valve-seat, a valve-stem anda valve-disk on said stern, movably arranged above said valve-seat, aspring-clamp at one side of the tank, an oscillating spindle having itsends arranged in the opposite sides of the tank, a lever connected withsaid spindle, and with said valve-stem for raising said stem and thevalve-disk thereon, and a rod extending from said spindle adapted to bebrought in holding engagement with said spring-clamp, consisting of afloat and a float-rod, and a link suspended from said lever having alarge loop portion in which said float-rod moves and is adapted to bebrought in engagement with the lower end thereof, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

8. A flushing apparatus, or the like, comprising a tank, a water-outletin the bottom of said tank, provided with a valve-seat, a valve-stem andvalve-disk on said stem movably arranged above said valve-seat, aspring-clamp at one side of the tank, an oscillating spindle having itsends arranged in the opposite sides of the tank, a lever connected withsaid spindle and with said valve-stem for raising said stem and thevalve-disk thereon, a rod extending from said spindle adapted to bebrought in holding engagement with said spring-clamp, for holding saidstem in its raised position while the level of the water is beinglowered, means actuated by the receding water for releasing said rodfrom its holding engagement with said springclamp, consisting of a floatand a float-rod, a link suspended from said lever having a large loopportion in which said float-rod moves and is adapted to be brought inengagement with the lower end thereof, and a water-inlet valve connectedwith said tank, the valve being connected with and operated by saidfloat-arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A flushing apparatus, or the like, comprising a tank, a water-outletin the bottom of said tank, provided with a valve-seat, a valve-stem andvalve-disk on said stem movably arranged above said valve-seat, a

spring-clamp, at one side of the tank, an oscillating spindle having itsends arranged in the opposite sides of the tank, a lever connected withsaid spindle, and with said valve-stem for raising said stem and thevalve-disk thereon, a rod extending from said spindle adapted to bebrought in holding engagement with said spring-clamp, for holding saidstem in its raised position while the level of the water is beinglowered, means actuated by the receding water for releasing said rodfrom its holding engagement with said spring-clamp, consisting of afloat and a float-rod, a link suspended from' said lever having a hrgeloop portion in which said float-rod nioves and is adapted to be broughtin engagement with the lower end thereof, and a water-inlet valveconnected with said tank, comprising, a casing having a valvechamber, aslotted plunger in said casing, a valve-disk connected with saidplunger, and a bell-crank pivotally connected with said casing, havingone portion extending into the slotted part of said plunger, and havinganother portion connected with said floatrod, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 18th day of July, 1902.

CHARLES E. DAY.

Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS.

